Review of Stark Raving Mad

Introduction

Oh. Another film with a clubbing element. Like the awful Human Traffic before it (The last great film of the nineties they claimed, a big steaming pile I claimed), this film features clubbing and a nightclub. Only this time the nightclub is a cover story. Ben (Seann William Scott) has a debt to local villain Gregory (Lou Diamond Phillips). In order to pay him off, Ben has agreed to steal from a bank vault next door to a nightclub. He sets up a night at the club in order to cover up what will be happening in the basement - a good old fashioned heist.

Video

A 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer which is good on the whole. Lots of dark clubby scenes, and some interesting colour filters are used at various points but I think it all looks just as the directors intended.

A few little flashy camera tricks pop up, along with lots of tight editing, and we also have the action slowing down now and again so the characters can talk to the camera. Sometimes this is an interesting gimmick, in this film it just turns out to be annoying.

Audio

A big, thumping DD5.1 soundtrack, which is totally dominated by dance tracks. This soundtrack was put together by John Digweed, and thankfully it`s not the usual club cheese, but something with a more authentic edge. It`s one of the few good things about the film.

The dialogue is clear and understandable, and can always be heard above the thumping basslines (unlike dialogue in real clubs). Your room is filled whenever there`s music playing, but you also get plenty of other sounds too - a very active mix.

Features

Nay, nay and thrice nay.

Conclusion

I`ve tried hard to find a way to sum up this film, and I can`t beat what Peter Bradshaw wrote in The Guardian on January 24th 2003:-

"So bad it could almost be a British lottery movie"

That`s just the perfect summary. This film is naff. The combination of elements of Human Traffic and elements of Lock, Stock does not make for a good film. Lou Diamond Phillips playes a dreadful stereotype gangland boss, the gang of misfits put together to pull of the heist are just taken from a pick`n`mix roll call of character types who won`t get on together but who can all work to achieve their goal in the end. Split screen shots of a robbery taking place. A spaced-out jailbait character, who turns out to be the daughter of a police officer. Yawn.

The DVD is a fine effort apart from the gaping lack of extras, but given the awfulness of the film, this turns out to be a blessing in disguise. You could pick this up for about a fiver online, but there are so many better things to spend your money on.

Avoid this awful dross.